Welcome to The Skin Realist

Marie Veronique Nadeau, The Skin RealistNov 4, 2026

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For more than two decades, I’ve been studying skin from the perspective of biology and chemistry. The latest scientific evidence strongly suggests that, particularly in the field of longevity, we’ve entered a new era with respect to skin care. We now have the capability to go beyond traditional skin care routines and into the realm of skin science, where treatments and products can deliver far more meaningful results. That has always been the standard I’ve applied to my work as a skin care formulator: understand the biology, follow the evidence, and make products that actually work.

In this publication, I see my role as a skin care forensics expert. Consumers have it hard right now: there is an overwhelming amount of information, much of it wrapped in fear-based marketing. Your personal quest for better skin care requires, first and foremost, fact-based information—and you’re ahead of the game if that information comes from a seasoned skeptic. I may surprise you with some of my assertions, but I’ve been surprising people for twenty-odd years, and I’m not done yet.

You can expect two articles each month covering a range of topics regarding skin function. This is vast territory these days, so to narrow it down, I’ll focus on two areas: epigenetics and longevity. Epigenetic mechanisms are the key to good skin function regardless of age, and the good news is lifestyle choices put us in control. We’ll be talking about how, very specifically, epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation affect skin performance. Of course, skin longevity is on everyone’s minds and lips, extending from social media bombast down to labels on a bottle. However, it’s not all hype; slowing down the rate of skin aging is possible—you just have to be careful how you do it. We’ll be discussing ways and means to slow aging rates, as well as common traps to avoid. For example, topical senolytics are good, but unregulated peptide use? Be wary.

We’ll be using the twelve hallmarks of aging to guide us on this fascinating journey into little-known territory. I delight in questions; they lead to conversations, which lead to new ways of thinking, so please don’t hesitate to jump in and keep the dialogue going. Jokes and funny stories are also welcome—a good laugh is a great skin care treatment. It improves circulation, after all, and there’s an epigenetic mechanism that gets triggered…hmmm, someone should explore that…

Welcome to The Skin Realist, where the least probable is made possible.

- Marie Veronique Nadeau

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